Manufacture of flexible metal tubing



Sept. 4, 1923.

E. JAMES MANUFACTURE: 0F FLEXIBLE METAL TUBING Filed Aug. 5, 1911 2Sheets-Sheetl 1 Ffe-,Z-

Sept. '4, 1923.

E. JAMES MANUFACTURE 0F FLEXIBLE METAL TUBING Filed A112!- 5, 1911 2Sheets-Sheet 2 In uenfoz gde/5rd James' Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES '1,466,999 PATENT oFFlcE.

EDWARD JAMES, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THEYOUNGSTOWN SHEET AND TUBE COMPANY, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A COR- PORATION0F OHIO.

HANUFACTURE 0F FLEXIBLE METAL TUBING.

Application led August 5, 1911.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, EDWARD JAMES, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga and State 6 of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of FlexibleMetal Tubing, of which the following is a specification, the principleof the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which Ihave contemplated applying the principle, so as to distinguish it fromother inventions.

The present invention relates in general to the manufacture of flexibletubing, and

has, as its principal object, the provision of means for the manufactureof flexible metal tubing of the kind that consists of two wires coiledone Within the other. To the accomplishment of these and related ends,said invention, then, consists of the means hereinq after fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawin Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machineembodying the invention.

igure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a partol' the machine, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale, and thesection bein taken on the plane indicated by line C of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail, transverse sectional view of a slightly modifiedform of die detached, the section being taken on the plane 4 indicatedby line 3 3 of Figure 4, and fragments of the friction rolls beingindicated.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, horizontal section through the die taken onthe plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken transversely through one of thewire guides at the place of oil sup ly communication.

Figures 6 an 7 are views similar respectivel to Figures 4 and 3 ofanother modil fied crm of the die.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a suitable frame 1 towhich is suit "ably secured a die 2 which will be hereafter described indetail, a convenient mode of atseriai No. 642,532.

taciment being to screw the threaded shank of the die into the frame.

Rotatably mounted in the frame 1 are two rolls 3 5 which, by means ofsuitable gears not shown, may be driven by a power shaft 7. Opposite therespective rolls 3 5 are two co-operative rolls 4- 6 which are connectedto the rolls 3 5 by gearin not shown; the rolls 4 6 are carried in arame 8 which is pivoted on an axis parallel with the power shaft 7. Thisframe may be slightly raised or lowered on its pivotal axis by ahand-wheel 9 which thrusts a spring 38 against the frame with more orless force, as the case may be. The two sets of rolls 3 4 and 5 6 aredesigned to feed forwardly two wires, and to force those wires into andthrou h the die V2, and the slight adjustab-ility oig the rolls 4 6provides for accommodating the pairs of rolls to different sized wires.

A tube, consisting for reasons of practical construction of two parts 1011, extends from the rolls 3 4 to the die 2 and serves as a guide tubefor the wire which is being forced into the die. The parts 10 11 of thetube are suitably secured at one end in the die 2, while the other endsof said parts are closely litted in between the rolls 3 4, the passage16 through the tube being preferably of such shape in cross-section asto contact with the wire which it is guiding in sev- 'eral planes only.The rolls 3 3 are peripherally` grooved and the tube is provided at itscorresponding end with ridges fitting into these grooves; the tube isthus held a ainst lateral movement and fits into the f rolls so closelthat the passage of Huid out around t e wire is prevented. At a pointintermediate between their ends, the tube parts 10 l1 are secured in asupport 12 having a tube 13 for the admission of lubricant; the tube 13may, if desired, be secured to the frame 1 and serve as'a support forthe guide tube. The tube 13 is connected by an opening 17 with theopening 16 in the support 12. By means of this construction of the guidetube and its supports 12 13, lubricant may be forced in around the wireas it progresses towards the die, and yet the tube gives to the Wireelfective support along its length. It will be understood that the shapeof the opening 16 may be of any desired form so long as it contacts withthe it lies substantially ,within the latter.

wire and yet provides a space around the wire; for instance, if roundWire is being used, the opening my desirably be triangular, asillustrated. duplicate guide tube and support is placed between the dieand the feed rolls 5 6. l

The die itself may be formed in any one of several ways, each of whichwill effectively coil the two wires in the desired manner. In Figures 3and 4 is shown a die which is formed interiorly for the part of itslength with encircling corru ations 18, into which leads an opening 19rom one of the tubes 10, the corrugations being helically formed.Between the last corrugation 18 and the outer end of the die is acylindrical bore 20 which is formed without coriugations; into the bore20, near its inner end, leads an opening 21 which may be either acircular opening, or which may be formed by slotting the die near itsend, and into the opening 21 leads one of the two tubes 10.

When the die, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is used in the machine, awire X is forced in the feed rolls 5-6 through the opening 19 and intothe first of the corrugations 18, and as the feed of the wire continues,the wire X is coiled around by the corrugations, and at the same timeadvances forwardly in the die. Simultaneously, a wire W, heavier thanthe wire X, is forced in by the rolls 3-4 through the opening 21 into.the bore 20, the inner wall of which is inclined to conform with thehelix of the corrugations 18. As the wire W is being coiled within thebore 20, the coiled wire X is emerging from the corrugations 18 andadvances within the coil of the Wire W as the latter is formed. As thecoiled wire X advances, it threads itself, so to speak. within the coilof wire W, and the convolutions of the two wires are forced apart andthe convolutions of one wire are alternatedv with the convolutions ofthe other. The coil of wire X, however, remains of smaller diameter thanthe coil of wire W, so thlat n this form, the two wires emerge from thedie as a flexible tube composed of two wires coiled one within the otherbut having their convolutions interposed between one another.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another form of die. This die has the helicalencircling corrugations 18 as in the former die, but instead of thecylindrical bore 20, there is provided a second series of helicallyformed encircling corrugations 22 into which leads an opening 23 fromone of the tubes 10. The corrugations 22 have a greater diameter thanthe corrugations 18, and are furthermore more widely spaced apart thanare the corrugations` 18. In operating the machine with the die shown inFigures 6 and 7, the smaller wire X is coiled by the corrugations 18 asbefore, but the larger Wire W is positively coiled by the corrugations22, and because of the separation of those corrugations theconvolutioiis of the Wire 1V are separated during the formation of thecoil. The coiled wire iV Within the die, therefore, practically forms athread which forces apart the convolutions of the wire X as the latteradvances into the coil of wire iV. As the two coils then progresstogether, they emerge from the die as the finished tubingi.

Although the dies shown both in Figure 4 and in Figure 6, asillustrated, are designed to receive the small wire X further from thedischarge end of the dic than the large wire 7, this arrangement may bereversed. In such case, the corrugations of Figure 4t will be of suchdiameter as is required for the coil of the outer or larger wire,whereas the cylindrical bore would remain as it is shown. In the die ofFigure 6, 'the corrugations 22, of what I Will call the outer series,would remain as they are shown, but the corrugations 18, of what I willcall the inner series, would remain closely spaced, but would be of thesame diameter as are the corrugations 22.

The die 2, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, is substantially identical instructure and function with that seen in Figures 6 and 7, save only thata smooth portion is left at the outer end of the bore of the die, asseen in Figures 6 and 7, whereas in the die 2 of Figures 1 and 2 thecorrugations 22 extend entirely to the end of the bore.

While all of the types of dies illustrated have been shown with thecorrugations 18, it is apparent that that portion of those portions ofthe bore of any of the dies having the corrugations may be made smoothcorresponding to the formation of the bore 20 of the die seen in Figure4, and the Wires may be led in either as shown or through the openingsspaced angularly of the die relative to each other. It niay also becomedesirable to push one of the Wires as shown bv means of feed rolls andto pull the other wire by means of its frictional contact with the wirebeing pushed.

In order to reduce friction and facilitate ease and speed of operation,the die, whether of the form shown in Figure 1 or Figure 4i,a or Figure6, or otherwise, is provided with openings 2G which are longitudinalnotches or open-ended slots, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4,proportioned to receive the peripheral portions of friction rolls 27 and28. The rolls 27 and 28 are preferably spaced, as shown in Figure 1, theupper roll, 28, being mounted in a frame 29, which frame is mounted tooscillate on a shaft 30 and may be adjusted by the hand-wheel 31arranged to thrust a spring 34 against. the free end portion of theframe 29 with variable force, according to the friction required. Theadjustability of roll 28 also allows the machine to be betteraccommodated to wire of different sizes. The several rolls 27-28 aregeared to rotate synchronously by intermeshin gears seen in dotted linesin Figure 1 and riven from a source of power not shown.

In the operation of the machine, the wires W and X are forced by meansof their respective feed rolls into the die 2 as above explained, andthe rolls 27-28, extendin into the openings 26 of the die, form rol ingsurfaces for the wires as they are being coiled. Hence, `the frictioncaused by forcing the wires throu h the die is greatly reduced.Moreover, t e rolls 27--28 also exert a pulling force on the wires andthus further assist the feed rolls which are forcing the wires throughthe die.

The wires W and X have been illustrated and considered as circular incross section, but theymay be of any desired form. It may be desirableto use a large wire W circular in cross section, and to use a smallerwire X trian lar in cross section. The present invention is not limitedto the manufacture of tubing utilizingcircular wires onl but if theshape of the wires is to be di erent, the die may be slightly changed toconform to the shape of the wire. The main features of construction ofthe die, however, will remain as before.

Neither is the present invention limited to the use of rolls for forcingthe wires into the die, but any other suitable means may be used, itbeing only necessary that such means be sufficient to force the wiresinto the die.

Other modes of a plying the rinciple of my invention may be em loyedpinstead of the one explained, change ing made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, rovided the means stated by any of the fol owingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctl claim as myinvention 1. fn a machine of the class described, the combination of adie provided internally for part of its lenglth with encirclingcorrugations, said die aving a plurality of lon itudinally extendingopenings; means fir forcingwtwo wires into said die, one of the wiresing forced into said corrugations; and means disposed op site thelongitudinal openings in said ie for aiding movement of the wiresthrough said die.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dieprovided internally for part of its length with encircling corrugations,said die having a plurality of longitudinally extending openin means forfoi-cin two wires into said ie, one of the wires ing forced into saidcorrugations; and a pluralit of rolls disposed opposite thhe respectiveongitudinal openings in said 3. In a machine of the class described, thecombination of a die provided internally for at least part of its lengthwith encrclin corrugations, said die having a plurality o longitudinallyextending openin means for forcin two wires into said ie, one of thewires eing forced into said corrugations and the other wire being forcedinto the remainder of the die; and means disosed opposite to thelongitudinal openings in the die for aiding movement of the wiresthrough said die.

4. A wire coiling head or die, comprising a body portion provided with abore comprising a spirally grooved section and with recesses which openlaterally into said spirally grooved section of said bore, andantifriction rollers rotatably mounted in said recesses, substantiallyas described.

5. A wire coiling head or die, comprising a body portion provided with abore comprising a spirally grooved section and with recesses which openlaterally into said spirally grooved section of said bore, andantifriction rollers rotatably mounted in said recesses, saidanti-friction rollers comprising a roller supported so as to beadjustable towards and from the axis of the bore in said head,substantially as described.

6. A wire coiling head or die, comprising a body portion provided with abore comprising a spirally grooved section and with recesses which openlaterall into said spirally grooved section of sai bore, andantifriction rollers rotatably mounted in said recesses, the last ofsaid rollers bein ad- 'ustable towards and from the axis o said ore,substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dieprovided internally for part of its length with encircling corrutions,said die having a plurality of openings, means for forcing two wiresinto said die, one of the wires being forced inte said corrugations, andmeans disposed opposite the openings in said die for aiding movement ofthe wires through said die.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dieprovided internally for part of its length with encircling corrugations,said die aving a plurality of openings, means for forcing two wires intosaid die, one of the wires beingl forced iii'to said corrugations, and aplura ity of rolls disposed opposite the respective openings in saiddie.

9. An apparatus for formin flexible tubing having two wire'coils of dierent diameters, comprising a coiling die having two coil forming wallsof different diameters, there being an outlet for the formed tubeleading from the wall of larger diameter, and means for forcin two wiresthrough the die to continuous y form the convolutes of the coils, theforming walls being of such dical opening therein,

ameters that the convolutes of the inner coil Vwill lie between theconvolutes of the outer coil, the convolutes of the inner coil exertingan expanding force in a radial direction on the convolntes of the outercoil While the convolutes o f the outer coil exert a radial contractingforce on the inner coil, while at the same time the convolutes of eachcoil are under tension tending to compress the convolutes of the othercoil between its convol'utes in a direction along the'axis ofthe coi s.

10. An apparatus for forming flexible tubing, comprising a die having acylindrithere being a laterally extending Wire feed openingcommunicating with the interior of the die, means for forcing wire in acontinuous manner through said feed opening into the die, the wall ofthe cylindrical o ening in the die being arranged to coil t e wire, saiddie having a second cylindrical coil forming Wall of larger diameterthan the first forming wall in advance of the first wall, there being a.second wire feed opening in advance `of' the first feed openincommunicating with the die in advance o the first forming wall of thedie, and means for forcing wire in a continuous manner into the lastfeed opening, the diameters of the two coil forming walls of the diebeing so proportioned relative to each other and the wires for formingthe coils, asto cause the forming wall of larger diameter to press theconvolutes of the outer coil between the convolutes of the innei` coiland thereby spread the convolutes of the inner coil of the tube duringthe formation thereof.

Signed by me this 18th day of July, 1911.

EDWARD JAMES.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certie'd that' in Letters Patent No. 1,466,999,5rentedSeptember 4, 1923, upon the a plication oLEdward James,o'Cleveland, hio,for am improvement in The lanufa'ture of Flexible Metal Tubing an errorappears 1n` the printed specification requiring correction es follows:lPage 2, line 25, after the word in insert the Lword by; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of .the case in the Patent Oice.4 v

Signed and sealed this 9th day of October, A. D., 1923.

[sun] WM. A. KINNAN,

Acting Commiaaoawr of Patents.

